Friday, June 28, 2013

2013 New Blogger Blog Hop is Here!

(Wowser...I can't believe I am typing these words.)  Welcome to my stop on the 2013 Let's Get Acquainted New Blogger Blog Hop!  Beth at Plum and June is an amazing supporter of our blog community.  In addition to hosting this annual blog hop that introduces new bloggers, she also hosts a weekly Let's Get Acquainted Monday Linky party and regular Advice and Tech Help for New Bloggers.  Thank you Beth for helping me and so many others!
Plum and June
Welcome to KayakQuilting!  Let me share what I think you might find interesting.  If I have overlooked something that will cause you sleepless nights, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and I will reply!

Who is Kathy?
Take a peek at the above pages "Who's in That Kayak" and "Beyond My Sewing Machine" for more information about the blog author.
(Picture is in front of The Needle Shop in Chicago.  Part of our global quilt store tour.)

There will be a quiz later.

Why KayakQuilting?
Now you know why the name, but why the blog?  I started my blog last October (with a lot of help from my wonderful almost-DIL!) as a way to journal my quilting adventure and create a dialogue with the quilting blog community that had (unknowingly) been teaching me how to quilt.  My first year blog and quilting goals included:
  1. Participate in a giveaway.
  2. Participate in an on-line quilt festival.
  3. Increase number of followers to 50
  4. Participate in blog hop
  5. Participate in a bee
  6. Join a quilting guild
  7. Participate in one Block of the Month project
I have a lot more work to do on the blog but honestly I have been focusing on the content.  Isn't it really all about the projects?

Speaking of Projects
I have updated my little blog to include pages above showing some of my finishes since I started quilting last year.   These are some of my favorite quilts:
And some of my fave small projects:
And I do have a thing for interesting backsides:

But it's not all love
To be honest, I don't love all aspects of quilting.  Planning projects, fabric selection, piecing, quilting and hand binding are all wonderful!  Crawling around on the floor to baste the larger projects is just not fun (but I do count it as exercise!).

Fabric Acquisition
I get it.  I completely understand why people hoard  fabric.  Believe me, I have tried to avoid this temptation with very little success.  Instead, I have little piles like this to look at:
I have just discovered Tula Pink and I can't stop adding her fabric to my modest (but growing!) fabric collection.
Which leads me to the discussion of...

My Sewing Room
The blog post that has had the greatest number of views (by far!) in my short blogging history is this one where I reveal my new sewing room.   To summarize, this is the "before" picture:
And this is after the improvements:
Not much has changed in the room since the pictures in the post (except for the continuous addition and usage of fabric!) but I have great plans!  And I can't tell you how much fun I have had in my own little quilt cave!  But I am sure you can imagine...

Teaser
OK, at least I am being honest about it...do come back to visit my blog in a couple of days.  I have something very, very exciting to share with you!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read all this!   I hope you have enjoyed your visit here and you're welcome to stop by anytime!  Here are all the fun stops on the blog hop this week....enjoy!

Gwendellyn @ The Rainbow Revolts
Jessica @ Stitched In Thyme
Kathy @ Kayak Quilting  <= You are here!
Michelle @ Factotum Of Arts
Kris @ Sew Sunshine
Camilla @ Faffling
Paula @ The Sassy Quilter
Green @ So Sew Green


Thanks!
Kathy

PS  I am heading to Seattle next week for my next stop on my global quilt shop tour a wedding.  Any suggestions for fabric shops in the region are greatly appreciated!  Also, as I will be traveling and spending time with the bride, my response to comments may be a little slower than normal.  But I promise to get back to you!  

53 comments:

  1. Great post, Kathy! I am sure glad to have met you through the New Blogger Hop this year! The improvements to your sewing room make it apparent why you would love to spend sew much time in there. Loved seeing all your projects. I adore that purse with the 50's style dresses! As an option to avoid all that crawling around on the floor to baste... Here is a post I shared about how I baste my quilts... http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/2013/03/sew-retro-baby-quilting.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hope you did get my comment about basting and how much I've enjoyed getting to know you, Kathy! http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/2013/03/sew-retro-baby-quilting.html

    When I clicked on publish... this came back up blank! Ackkkk!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi, just saw your comment on the SS/Tiara group and thought I would drop in. Welcome to the blog world. Love your quilt backs....wonder what the surprise news is? :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love all the work you have on display and love that Tula Pink fabric :-) I love your newly renovated sewing room.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A face behind the blog! I do like your sewing room. Thank you so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi, It is very nice to meet you. i hope you have a fun time on your trip. i love your sewing space.
    jan@http://sewandsowfarm.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  7. love your work and I'm a new follower

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kathy, I just love your work. The sampler is my favorite! I have this on my list to do. Loving your space too:) Will definitely be back to see the surprise...I love surprises.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can see why you got so many comments on your sewing room - it is to die for! I'll be coming back in a few days for the exciting news. Great projects, btw. I'm a new follower on bloglovin.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello. We have met during the Sew We Quikt Blog Hops. Good to see you here. Nice post and projects!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Such a nice post Kathy! I pinned your quilt backs for inspiration... I love the one with the large random blocks especially so you might see that appear on my blog one day. ;-D

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can see why that is your most popular post! What a beautiful space :) Thanks for sharing! It is so nice to meet you. I totally agree- basting is absolutely the WORST part of quilting. Blerg!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the before and after shots of your quilting cave. I especially like the stained glass window - how pretty would that be in a quilt??!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Holy cow, can't believe how many projects you've gotten done in just a year! Your sampler is amazing, and it's really awesome how many of the blogging goals you've hit!! And yes to Tula Pink - yes yes yes!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful quilts--I love them all :) And you have a great looking sewing room. It was nice to get to know you!

    ReplyDelete
  16. So lovely to meet you! Love your new sewing room. The change in wall colour makes a huge difference.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Lovely to meet you Kathy! Your "new" sewing room looks fantastic :) And I am definitely in agreement about basting on the floor :(

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ummm, can I have your sewing room please? It's so lovely (now)! So nice to meet you Kathy - enjoy your global quilt shop tour (I mean, wedding).

    ReplyDelete
  19. Kathy good to meet you. Wow your sewing room looks great. I love the way you brightened up the room.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your room looks wonderful! And yes, basting isn't so fun!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Kathy, lovely to meet you! Your sewing room looks great and I love your stained glass window! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a great space, so inviting to come to and sew! Great to see some of your projects, ogle at your fabric and of course get to know something more about you!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am sooo sooo jealous of your sewing room. I wish mine looked more put together and not such a mess. That is currently my summer project!!! Hopefully that is. What a great post and it has been so nice getting to know you better.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm totally addicted to Tula as well, so I know what you mean! Lovely projects - especially that round cut gem quilt. I love that pattern :) Nice to get to know you better through the Hop!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Nice to meet you! Your sewing room is amazing! I currently live in a 2 bedroom apartment with my husband and 2 kids and I long for a sewing space. You have some lovely projects :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. well, howdy, kathy! it's so nice to be meeting all these new quilters. i can only imagine the fun you have in that little cave, which you've brightened up so nicely! i love interesting backs, too.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love the idea of global quilt store tour. I am now officially beginning my own tour, just have to break the news to my husband gently!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Lovely post! Your sewing room is very nice! The old one looked good but the new one is even lovelier! I like Tula Pink fabrics very much as well and am trying to grow my collection though that is probably true about all the fabrics I like!! So nice to meet you on the hop and I look forward to your big announcement!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Have a great time in Seattle! I would recommend going to The Quilting Loft in Ballard (a few miles from downtown) and if you are able to get outside of town a little, Keepsake Cottage in Bothell is really fun.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Sending you some LGA love from a fellow hopper! OMG, a global quilt store tour ... tell me more! Favorite so far? I've gotta follow along to see what this big surprise is! Maybe you're coming to Sydney to build me a fabulous sewing room? hehe

    ReplyDelete
  31. Lovely post and you have a gorgeous sewing room!!!
    Just to let you know, I don´t like the crawling part on the floor neither LOL

    ReplyDelete
  32. Your new sewing room is wonderful! Your quilts are beautiful. Can't wait to read more about your quilting/life adventures.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi nice to meet you! Love the sewing room makeover. It looks fantastic! I would love to hear more about all your favorite shops on your global quilt store tour!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Love the stained glass in your sewing room - gives me an idea for my husband... We are also 'yakers! We live in the KC metro area so there are quite a few small lakes within driving distance. I've actually paper pieced while floating around while he fishes! Found you via the Blog Hop, happy to follow you and see your future posts!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Nice to meet you! I LOVE your plus quilt! It's so fresh and pretty! Your sewing room makeover is amazing! I love it! Basting and crawling all over the floor is dreadful - I am totally with you on that.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Wow, so many gorgeous photos here! I love that plus quilt, and your "quilting cave"... wow! Lots of good ideas there to file away for the future. I loved learning more about you today. Sounds like you are really loving life. :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. I also love your 'plus' quilt. Hope you have a great trip.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hi, lovely to meet you! Your projects are really beautiful and what a sewing room...I'm jealous! I love your goal of visiting every state in the US you're doing well :) Amy

    ReplyDelete
  39. Love your quilts, especially the gorgeous plus one, stunning! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Great blog hop post! Your quilts are lovely and the sewing room is amazing!

    Jenny @Note to Follow Sew
    http://notetofollowsew.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  41. I just love that sampler quilt! Lovely!

    And, yes, I totally understand about the fabric hoarding. I am currently on a "fabric diet" until I use up some fabric that I already have. But I did buy a little bit of Liberty of London recently just to see what I was missing and I'm dying for those Tula Pink raccoons!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Loved reading about you on your "Who's in that Kayak?" and "Beyond the sewing machine" pages! Your scrappy trips quilt looks amazing. I've only made one block so far, but have lots of strips ready to go when time is available. I noticed that you haven't made it to TX yet, and although I call Dallas home, I wouldn't recommend it for quilt shops. It pains me to say this, but you'd probably do better around Austin. I look forward to following your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hmmm. I don't know where exactly in New England you are located, but...I recently joined the Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild. We meet in West Newbury and all over NH (we have a meeting scheduled in Portland, ME for the fall). Lots of really talented ladies and we have a lot of fun! (I know of at least one other Tula nut in our ranks, too--you'd be in good company!)

    Glad to have met you through the blog hop!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Wahoo!! Good for you for crossing items off your to do list left and right! Love your work and your sewing room makeover is to die for!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Oh bless you! I have no patience for making a quilt back!! I avoid them like the plague! Your before and after of your sewing room is great! It's much more open and bright. Great job! It's nice to meet you "again." :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Love that log cabin quilt. I've been wanting to make one for ages now but it never seems to make it to the top of the list. I have also made a pilgrimage to the Needle Shop on my own version of a worldwide fabric shop tour. I'm hoping to add a few more shops to my list when we drive across Canada later this summer.

    Hopefully you share some things to do in Seattle. I'll be there in early August and would love a few tips.

    ReplyDelete
  47. You have some beautiful projects and a great sewing space, I love the room update!! I live in WA but on the eastern side so I'm not any help with Seattle quilt stores. Let me know if you find any good ones for my next visit to Seattle:)

    ReplyDelete
  48. Wow--congratulations on making so much progress on your first year to-do list! I love your quilt backs. I though I had a thing for fancy backs, but that pieced cut jewel pattern floors me every time I see it. I'm also so jealous of your sewing room--what a lovely place to work! Great to meet you on the blog hop!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Wow--congratulations on making it so far through your first year to-do list! I love your quilt backs (and the fronts, too, of course :) ). I thought I had a thing for fancy backs, but that pieced cut jewel pattern floors me every time I see it--what a fantastic surprise on the back of a quilt. I am also so jealous of your sewing room--what a lovely place to work! Great to meet you on the blog hop!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Looks like you've tackled most of your goals - congrats! Your sewing room looks great :) If you're ever in Austin, Dallas, or Oklahoma City, I can give you suggestions for shopping those cities!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Wow, your sewing space...sweet improvements!! I can't wait to move out of here and into a cute house with hardwood floors :( The only thing I miss about our last place! Tula Pink is pretty fab, I'm not necessarily a blanket fan of her work, but it seems like the prints I have of hers are among my favorites in my stash, so that says something! Love your plus and scrappy trip quilts, btw c:

    ReplyDelete
  52. Nice to meet you, your sewing room is awesome, I'm jealous! I also love that black and white log cabin and the owl tote (so cute!) I can't wait to see more from you. Sorry I'm a little behind on my blog hoppin' :)

    ReplyDelete

How nice of you to take the time to comment!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...